Melbourne’s Arts and Science degrees are first and second respectively - totaling 4898 applications - and Melbourne has five of the 10 most sought degrees in the state.

VTAC data shows first preference applications for Melbourne’s degrees have jumped by 21 percent overall from last year, the largest increase in Victoria.

There has also been a 24 percent increase in applications through the Access Melbourne program for disadvantaged students, including large increases for those from rural areas and low socio-economic backgrounds.

The University has made 6183 first-round offers, which is 49 more than last year.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), Professor Sue Elliott, said the demand reflected the growing awareness of the new programs at Melbourne and their attractiveness to students from all backgrounds.

Professor Elliott said it had also contributed to a rise in the Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) for all degrees, a 24 percent increase in interstate offers and 21 percent more Access Melbourne offers.

She said the new Chancellor’s Scholars’ Program for very high achieving students - offered for the first time this year - had proven extremely popular, with Melbourne making more than 90 offers to students with an ATAR of 99.9 or above.

Science had the biggest increase, making 80 more offers than last year and recording a 5-point rise in the ATAR (from 85.05 to 90.15).

"This course, along with Biomedicine, has been particularly popular for Access Melbourne students from rural or low socio economic backgrounds," Professor Elliott said.

"The Science degree is the gateway to 46 graduate and professional accreditation study options - including the Doctor of Medicine, the Juris Doctor, the Master of Engineering and Masters degrees in areas including Arts, Environment and Information Technology - as well as numerous research and professional development courses. So it’s particularly pleasing to see its value recognised by prospective students."

She said publishing guaranteed ATARs in advance for Access Melbourne categories had been well received by students and schools and had contributed to large numbers of offers for students in these categories.

Professor Elliott said Melbourne’s attraction to international students had also continued to grow despite a significant national downturn, with the University making 40 more offers to that group through VTAC than last year.